The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Wednesday that the urgent Phala Phala matter cannot be delayed or deferred to next year, and suggested that the report be tabled in the first week of December.

DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said the party will reach out to other opposition parties who have been calling for accountability on the Phala Phala matter to support the call to extend the programme of Parliament.

On Wednesday, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula extended the deadline for the independent panel’s report on whether there is a prima facie case for President Cyril Ramaphosa's impeachment over the Phala Phala saga.

Mapisa-Nqakula extended the deadline from November 17 to November 30.

“During the National Programming Committee tomorrow [Thursday], the DA will make the case that Parliament’s programme now needs to be extended to deal with this report. The panel is due to report to the Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on the 30th of November while Parliament was meant to rise on the 1st of December,” said Gwarube.

The African National Congress’s much anticipated national elective conference is set to take place from December 16 to 20.

Gwarube noted that while Parliament had followed the rules on this process thoroughly, the DA cannot allow delays that may be “politically motivated”.

She added that no sitting President should have a question of whether or not they broke the law and oath of office hanging over their head.

“In addition, the National Assembly Rules pertaining to Section 89 of the Constitution compel the Speaker to table the report before the House as a matter of urgency. It only makes sense that this is then done in the first week of December,” she said.